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Member of Parliament for Bradford East@DavidWardMP on Twitter and Facebook |
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David Ward MP <>
MP “ecstatic” over cash to rebuild Bradford’s crumbling schools
May 24, 2012 6:37 PM
Bradford MP David Ward has warmly welcomed the announcement that Carlton Bolling College in Bradford Moor is to be included in the
David raising Bradford's school buildings in Parliament
Coalition's Priority Schools Building Program, along with 3 other schools in the district.
The announcement follows months of intense lobbying from David Ward, who lead a Parliamentary debate in November to highlight the urgent need for extra funding to rebuild some of Bradford's most dilapidated school buildings and to create more school places to meet its rapidly growing population.
Schools only qualified for the new programme if they had not received significant investment in the past 15 years and the cost of outstanding repairs is 30 per cent or more of the cost a replacement building. Competition was intense and less than half of the 587 UK schools that applied we successful in their bid for funding.
The other schools in Bradford prioritised for the programme are Belle Vue Boys' School, Carlton Bolling College, Oakbank School and the Samuel Lister Academy
Commenting, David said:
"I was ecstatic when I heard the news. I've been lobbying the Government to invest in Bradford's school buildings since I was elected. They have now listened to me and others and included all but one of the schools we put forward in their Priority Schools Building Program.
"I am particularly delighted that Carlton Bolling was included on the list. The school building is in a very bad state and parts of it have had to be roped off because there were fears they might be structurally unsound. The new building will also help to increase capacity to deal with the huge demand for places. A fantastic result for the College and for the whole community in Bradford Moor.
"The Education Secretary has promised to visit schools in Bradford East in the near future and I intend to hold him to that promise. When he comes I will take him to Carlton Bolling to see a shining example of what can be achieved by dedicated staff and a fantastic head teacher, in spite of the very difficult conditions they face."